As December begins, Christmas lights are popping up all across Vermont to welcome the holiday season, bringing joy and brightness to the dark, cold days of winter.

Luckily, if you’re a fan of Christmas lights, you don’t have to go far to see them. Vermont has plenty of professional Christmas light displays ready to dazzle you this season, including everything from a walkthrough at a beautifully lit nature center to a museum full of decorated exhibits with a different theme in each room.

Here are five of the best Christmas light displays to check out in Vermont this holiday season.

Winter Lights at Shelburne Museum

On nights during the holiday season, Shelburne Museum turns into a winter wonderland full of colorful light displays. Each building and garden of the museum’s campus is uniquely decorated, from cascading twinkling lights at Beach Woods to the 220-foot illuminated steamboat “Ticonderoga.”

Those who do not want to walk can enjoy the magic of the lights on specific drive-around nights throughout the season. The museum will also have two gift shops, as well as a cafe with snacks and hot chocolate open until 8 p.m. each night of the light display.

Online tickets cost $15 for adults, $10 for children ages 3-17 or $30 for VIP. Tickets can be purchased in person, but are more expensive and not guaranteed. Drive-around tickets, which must be purchased online, cost $65 per vehicle.

When: 4-8 p.m. Thursday through Sunday from Nov. 21, 2025 through Jan. 4, 2026, plus every day between Dec. 26 and Jan. 1. Drive-around hours offered on Nov. 24-25, Dec. 2-3, Dec. 9-10, Dec. 16-17 and Jan. 5-6. Sensory-friendly nights on Dec. 1 and Dec. 15.

Where: Shelburne Museum, 6000 Shelburne Road, Shelburne

Winter Lights in the Park

This free, family-friendly light display allows guests to walk through lit trees and tunnels in Maple Street Park while holiday music floats through the air. Winter Lights in the Park also doubles as a scavenger hunt for hidden ornaments throughout the decorated trees.

When: 5-8 p.m. daily from Nov. 27, 2025 through Jan. 1, 2026

Where: Maple Street Park, 75 Maple St., Essex Junction

More: This Vermont town was named one of the most ‘Hallmark-like’ in America

A Forest of Lights

Nature lovers can experience the beautiful Vermont outdoors lit up for the holiday season at the Vermont Institute of Natural Science (VINS) Nature Center in Quechee. A Forest of Lights, the nature center’s holiday light special, is an outdoor walkthrough experience with thousands of lights in exciting displays, including new attractions like the Sparkle Dome, the Dancing Lights Pavilion and Under the Black Light Sea.

When you finish walking through the illuminated forest, hot chocolate and light snacks are available for purchase to enjoy by the campfire.

Tickets cost $15 for adults or $9 for children over three.

When: 4:30-7 p.m. on Thursday through Saturday until Dec. 20, then daily until Jan. 3, 2026

Where: VINS Nature Center, 149 Natures Way, Quechee

Christmas Lights at the Joseph Smith Birthplace

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints celebrates Christmas with an outdoor light display at the birthplace of the church’s founder, Joseph Smith. Over 200,000 colorful lights decorate the grounds of the South Royalton monument.

Visitors can walk or drive along the decorated path for free.

When: 4-9 p.m. daily from Nov. 28, 2025 through Jan. 1, 2026

Where: Joseph Smith Birthplace, 357 Lds Lane, S. Royalton

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Spruce Peak Lights Festival

Held for one night only at The Village at Spruce Peak, the Spruce Peak Lights Festival illuminates the ski village and surrounding evergreen trees with thousands of holiday lights.

Other attractions at this event include ice dancing performances, photos with Santa, a complimentary photobooth and a firework show.